Italian Passport

[markg]

This is aimed at citizens of Italy.

I have just tried to apply for an Italian passport (i'm half Italian)

Obviously i m in Thailand so i was doing it via their embassy in England.

They told me there is no problem with me getting the passport - BUT, i have to send my birth certificate which WONT be returned. I asked for confirmation of this - and they confirmed it. Send original birth certificate which gets sent to Italy and wont be returned.

Have any other Italians found this to be the case? It sound most odd. Or can you just get replacement birth certificates in Italy easily?

As i have a birth certificate from England, i dont want to go through all the hassle of trying to get another certificate whilst i m over in Thailand.

Regards

Mark G